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Naples

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Naples is a major regional capital in Campania, Italy.

Napoli 2
Napoli 2

It serves as the largest city in southern Italy. Within its administrative limits, the city has a population of 908,082. Naples is the third-largest city in Italy, following Rome and Milan. Its province-level municipality is even larger, with 2,958,410 residents. This metropolitan area is the seventh most populous in the European Union.

Napoli-densitàurbana
Napoli-densitàurbana

The city also holds importance in international diplomacy. It is home to NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples. It also hosts the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

The history of Naples begins in the first millennium BCE. Greeks founded the area as one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas.

Putz94
Putz94

In the eighth century BCE, a colony called Parthenope was established on the island of Megaride.

Odysseus-siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples
Odysseus-siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples

This settlement was expanded by Cumaeans to include Monte Echia.

Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024
Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024

In the sixth century BCE, the city was refounded as Neápolis. It became a vital part of Magna Graecia. Eventually, the Roman Republic captured the city from the Samnites. The Romans treated Naples as a center of Hellenistic culture.

ColonneDioscuriNapoli
ColonneDioscuriNapoli

During the Roman era, the city grew with villas and aqueducts. Emperors like Claudius and Tiberius often visited for holidays.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city saw many different rulers. The Ostrogoths captured the city before the Byzantine Empire took it back in 536.

Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on Vesuvius
Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on Vesuvius

Following the decline of Byzantine power, a Duchy of Naples was created. This duchy eventually gained complete independence by the early ninth century. Naples later came under Norman control in 1137. The city served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples from 661 to 1139.

Palazzo Reale di Napoli - Federico II
Palazzo Reale di Napoli - Federico II

It was also the capital of the Kingdom of Naples from 1282 to 1816. Finally, it was the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies until 1861. This was when Italy underwent unification.

Naples is a world-renowned center for the arts and music. It is often called a capital of the Baroque. This artistic period was inspired by the career of Caravaggio in the 17th century.

Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo
Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo

The city also led the Neapolitan School of classical music and opera. This school helped create the modern conservatory system.

The Neapolitan song, or Canzone napoletana, gained worldwide popularity. The city also fostered movements like the School of Posillipo and Art Nouveau.

Liberty Napoli
Liberty Napoli

Even the art of the Neapolitan pizzaiolo is significant. UNESCO has inscribed this culinary skill on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The 20th century brought both expansion and significant hardship to the city. Between 1925 and 1936, the Fascist regime expanded and upgraded the urban area. However, World War II caused severe damage through Allied bombing.

Napoli 4.8.1943, bombardamento aereo statunitense
Napoli 4.8.1943, bombardamento aereo statunitense

In September 1943, the people of Naples held an uprising against Nazi German occupation. This event is known as the Four Days of Naples. It occurred just before Allied forces arrived on 1 October 1943. After the war ended, the city underwent extensive reconstruction work to rebuild its damaged areas.

Today, Naples is a vital hub for the Italian economy. It has the third-largest urban economy in Italy by GDP.

Napoli 2
Napoli 2

The Port of Naples is one of the most important ports in Europe. The city is also a major center for education. It is home to the University of Naples Federico II, founded in 1224. This is the oldest state-funded and secular university in the world.

The city also hosts the University of Naples "L'Orientale." This is the oldest European institution for Oriental and Sinological studies. The Nunziatella Military School is also located here.

Visitors to Naples find a massive density of cultural and monumental resources. The BBC has described it as a city with too much history to handle.

Napoli-densitàurbana
Napoli-densitàurbana

The historic city centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many famous landmarks are located nearby. These include the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The city's connections to the past are visible in its many museums. The National Archaeological Museum is one such important site.

Napoli, museo archeologico2
Napoli, museo archeologico2

Naples remains a bridge between ancient history and modern European life.

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🖼️ Images & Media (49)
File:Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024.jpg
Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024.jpg
File:ColonneDioscuriNapoli.jpg
ColonneDioscuriNapoli.jpg
File:Odysseus-siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples.jpg
Odysseus-siren Parthenope, the...
File:Putz94.jpg
Putz94.jpg
File:Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on Vesuvius.jpg
Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on Vesuvius.jpg
File:Palazzo Reale di Napoli - Federico II.jpg
Palazzo Reale di Napoli - Federico II.jpg
File:Galleria San Martino. 02 (cropped).JPG
Galleria San Martino. 02 (cropped).JPG
File:Jan van Essen - Fleet review before Naples.jpg
Jan van Essen - Fleet review before Naples.jpg
File:Admiral Byng's Fleet at Naples.jpg
Admiral Byng's Fleet at Naples.jpg
File:Departure of Charles III from Naples.jpg
Departure of Charles III from Naples.jpg
File:Veduta di Santa Lucia (Largo di Palazzo) e San Martino, Napoli,1799.jpg
Veduta di Santa Lucia (Largo di Palazzo)...
File:Napoli Castel Nuovo museo civico - ingresso di Garibaldi a Napoli - Wenzel bis.jpg
Napoli Castel Nuovo museo civico -...

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